The number of coronavirus cases in the country crossed the 1.5 lakh mark on Thursday with 6387 persons testing positive for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours
According to the Health Ministry data, a total of 1,51,767 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 till date. 83,004 of these are active cases while 64,426 persons have recovered from the infection.
170 deaths have been recorded in the last 24 hours taking the total death toll to 4337.
Some experts have flagged an urgent need for more intense surveillance and monitoring in areas where migrants have returned to contain the outbreak and warned that their tallies may go up due to resumption of domestic flights on top of the special trains and flights.
The Union Health Ministry, however, said the recovery rate for COVID-19 cases in the country has seen an upwards trend and is better than many other countries, while the fatality has fallen further.
Announcing further relaxations in lockdown norms, the Telangana government on Wednesday permitted all types of shops, except malls, to open in Hyderabad and lifted the night ban on plying state Road Transport Corporation buses. It, however, decided not to allow buses to run in Hyderabad for some more days in view of the COVID-19 case load, an official release said.
Five more localities in Delhi were declared as coronavirus containment zones on Wednesday, taking the total number of such zones to 96 in the national capital. Fresh COVID-19 positive cases were reported from three pockets in east Delhi and two in south Delhi following which they were declared as containment zones by authorities, a senior Delhi government official said.
Seventy-six people tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha on Wednesday, taking the number of cases to 1,593, a Health Department official said. Of the fresh cases, 74 people returned to Odisha from other states like Gujarat, West Bengal, Maharastra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand, and were lodged at different quarantine centres.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday thanked all those who are at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 and shared their stories on Twitter. He said doctors, nurses, police, civil defense volunteers, and many others are working day and night without caring for their lives. Kejriwal called them the real heroes of Delhi.
2 passengers who had travelled with SpiceJet from Ahmedabad to Guwahati on May 25 have tested positive for #COVID19. Passengers had travelled on SG-8194 (Ahmedabad-Delhi) & SG-8152 (Delhi-Guwahati): SpiceJet Spokesperson
Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has declared that the Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses are getting exempted from curfew restrictions from tomorrow: Telangana CM's Office
At least seven deaths on-board migrant special trains were reported on Wednesday, officials said, putting the Railways in the dock over its handling of these non-AC trains. The national transporter said most of the deceased had pre-existing health conditions.
The Delhi BJP on Wednesday said there was lack of beds for coronavirus patients in city hospitals as it shared a video of a COVID-19 patient lying on the ground outside a health facility, prompting an assurance from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that he will get the matter "enquired and rectified".
The current count of #COVID19 patients in Maharashtra is 56948. Today, 2190 patients have been identified as positive, also 964 patients have been cured. Total 17918 patients are cured&discharged. Total Active patients are 37125: Maharashtra Health Minister, Rajesh Tope
Authorities in Rajasthan have taken action against more than 1,300 people for violating mandatory quarantine protocols, slapping fines or even filing FIRs against them, a senior official said on Wednesday. (READ MORE)
With train services having been stopped till June 30 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Southern Railway has said passengers holding paper tickets can cancel them any time up to September 22 and a full refund will be provided.
The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday issued an advisory stating that goggles, which are a crucial component of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, confirming to prescribed Bureau of Indian Standards specifications can be reused after proper disinfection.
In an update of the clinical guidance for adults diagnosed with the coronavirus, Sciensano said several studies did not find any benefit to the drug and even indicated a possible harmful effect. (READ MORE)
The Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation's administrative building in Thane district was closed on Wednesday, after a 40-year-old doctor from the health department tested positive for COVID-19, an official said.
The rescheduled dates for Class 12 state boards exams remain unchanged and they will be held on June 29, July 2 and July 6 as announced last week, Chatterjee said addressing a press conference in Bikash Bhavan here.(READ MORE)
The flight was operated on May 25, when domestic flight services resumed after remaining grounded for two months due to the nationwide lockdown to prevent spreading of coronavirus infections. Alliance Air, which operates regional flights, is part of Air India. (READ MORE)
As of today, 930 dedicated COVID hospitals with 158747 isolation beds, 20355 ICU beds and 69076 Oxygen supported beds are available, government of India said on Wednesday. "A total of 1,51,767 cases have been reported from the country in which 64,426 persons have been cured and the recovery rate is pegged at 42.4 per cent. The fatality rate is 2.86 per cent whereas the world average is 6.36 per cent, the health ministry added.
An 83-year-old woman died of coronavirus here while 10 migrant workers tested positive for the virus on Wednesday, an official said. Chief Medical Officer Praveen Chopra told PTI here that the octagenarian patient had tested positive on May 24 and passed away at a COVID-19 designated hospital on Wednesday.
Forty people, mostly returnees, test positive for coronavirus in Kerala on Wednesday. Of the 40 positive cases, 16 people had come from Maharashtra,5 from Tamil Nadu, one from Telangana, three from Delhi, one each from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and UP. Nine people had come from abroad.
The Kerala govt has notified 13 new places as hotspots taking the total no of hotspots in state to 81.
Sona Mollah, Raheema Khatun and Farid Mollah, all natives of Bengal’s Murshidabad district, raised Rs 30,600 to buy air tickets. While Raheema sold his finger ring, Farid borrowed and used his savings, and Sona’s wife sold three goats for Rs 9,600 and deposited in her husband’s bank account. The three broke down upon knowing that the flight to Kolkata was cancelled and there would not be any refunds. (READ MORE)
Bengal is facing a major disaster (post Amphan) and railways is sending Shramik trains every day which will lead to spike in COVID-19 cases, said West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday. she added, "Railways running special trains for migrant workers according to its whims and conditions".
In a heart-wrenching twist in the ongoing tragedy of migrants, a video of a toddler frantically trying to wake up his dead mother at Muzaffarpur railway station has gone viral on social media. The woman had died soon after the train arrived at Muzaffarpur railway station. In the video, the toddler is seen pulling the shroud covering his mother to wake her up. The heartbreaking visual has evoked a massive reaction and empathy for the toddler. (READ HERE)
In a heart-wrenching twist in the ongoing tragedy of migrants, a video of a toddler frantically trying to wake up his dead mother at Muzaffarpur railway station has gone viral on social media. The woman had died soon after the train arrived at Muzaffarpur railway station. In the video, the toddler is seen pulling the shroud covering his mother to wake her up. The heartbreaking visual has evoked a massive reaction and empathy for the toddler. (READ HERE)
At least 30,000 weddings planned across the state have been called off or postponed in the last two months in light of the ongoing health crisis, said spokesperson of Hotel and Restaurant Association (Gujarat) Abhijit Deshmukh. (READ MORE)
The people in Haryana will be fined Rs 500 for spitting on roads and not wearing masks in public, media reports said.
To ensure attendance, the district administration has been entrusted with arranging KSRTC buses for the transportation of employees stuck in other districts. The fuel expense of the transportation will be met from the State Disaster Response Fund and a fixed fare will be collected from the passengers. (READ MORE)
Liquor shops in Kerala will reopen from May 28. The shops will be allowed to function from 9 am to 5 pm, excise minister TP Ramakrishnan said. Online liquor sale in Kerala to start on May 28 as well. People can book liquor though the "Bevq App" from 7 am to 10 pm.
A total of 445 domestic flights carrying 62,641 passengers operated on Tuesday, said Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday, asserting the airports functioned smoothly on the second day of the recommencement of domestic services in India.
The move came after two French advisory bodies and the World Health Organization warned this week that the drug -- a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus -- had been shown to be potentially dangerous in several studies.
We maintain the need for a COVID negative certificate and a compulsory COVID test. The 14-day home quarantine option will be no longer available. Either you bring the negative certificate or have to take the test, said Goa CM Pramod Sawant.
On June 3 last year, the top court had stayed the Madras High Court judgment ordering demolition of top five floors of the eight-storey block of Billroth Hospitals Ltd for alleged violation of the approved building plan. (READ MORE)
The northern railways headquarters in Delhi, Baroda house, was sealed on Wednesday after an employee tested positive for coronvirus.
This is the first time in Delhi that over 700 COVID-19 cases have been reported in a day. In a bulletin issued on Wednesday, the Delhi health department said, the death toll from coronavirus infection has risen to 303, and the total number of cases mounted to 15,257. (PTI)
With 122 fresh cases in last 24 hours, the COVID-19 tally in Karnataka mounts to 2405. The state has so far recorded 45 deaths, the health department said.
Two more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Manipur on Wednesday taking the state tally to 41.
In what could be a major threat, a 36-year-old life inmate has tested positive for coronavirus at the Tiruchy Central Prison. The inmate who recently went for a 42 day training in Puzal, returned back to the Tiruchy prison and has apparently contracted the virus. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)
Chief minister B S Yediyurappa said they are keen on opening worship places from June 1 including temples, churches and masjids. However they are awaiting nod from the Union government. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)
Rajasthan on Wednesday recorded two COVID-19 deaths and 109 new cases of the virus, an official said. The number of cases in the state now stands at 7,645 and fatalities at 172. (READ FULL REPORT HERE)
Till 25 May, more than 30,000 people have returned to India on 158 flights from different countries and more than 10,000 people have flown out of India on 164 flights. Another 49,000 people will be able to fly till mid June 2020: Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Civil Aviation Minister
Farmers in Nashik say they're not able to sell onions at fair price. A farmer says, "We're getting less than half of the price at which we used to sell.Our earnings are not even supporting expense of fuel to carry them to market.Situation is such we'll die of hunger"
No decision has been taken on opening of schools and colleges and all education institutions across the country are still prohibited to open, the Union Home Ministry said Tuesday night. The statement by the home ministry spokesperson came after a section of media reported that the ministry has given permission to all states to open schools.
The lockdown removal will happen in a "very very gradual" and calibrated manner, Maharashtra Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta said on Tuesday even as he cautioned of a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases and that steps will be taken up accordingly.
India is planning to bring back home its one lakh stranded nationals from 60 countries under the second phase of the Vande Bharat mission, officials said on Tuesday. The second phase of the mission was to end on May 22. However, the government extended it till June 13. (READ MORE)
One passenger on today's AI9I837 Delhi-Ludhiana flight has been found COVID19 positive. The passenger who works in the security department of Alliance Air was traveling on a paid ticket. All the passengers of this flight are now under state quarantine: Air India
Fitch projects Indian economy to contract 5 per cent in current fiscal
A 50-year-old man who is a member of security staff in Air India and is a permanent resident of Delhi has tested positive for Coronavirus. He came back from Delhi on 25th May on board a domestic flight: District Public Relations Office, Ludhiana
Specially trained staff will be deployed at the aiport to perform car fumigation, temperature checks for driver partners and car audit before every pick up, the company said in a statement.
We received confirmation from the Coimbatore airport doctor that a passenger who travelled on 6E 381 from Chennai to Coimbatore on 25th May evening, has tested positive for COVID19: IndiGo statement
The Indian Council for Medical Research has maintained that anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine 'may be working' in preventing Covid 19 and there are not many safety concerns related to the medicine, indicating that its recommendation of the drug for coronavirus prophylaxis will continue.
The minor migrant labourer had returned to Kalaburagi district from Somanahalli village of Kolhapur district of Maharashtra few days back and was kept in Institutional Quarantine Centre where she delivered a baby. (READ MORE)
In the last 24 hours, 361 new COVID -19 positive cases have been reported in Gujarat; taking the total number cases to 14,829. Death toll rises to 915 after 27 deaths were reported in last 24 hours: Gujarat Health Department
91 COVID19 postive cases have been reported in Jammu and Kahsmir on Tuesday; 54 from Jammu division and 37 from Kashmir division. Total active cases stand at 902: Government of Jammu and Kashmir
Sports Authority of India (SAI) has resumed sports activities at Delhi's Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. SAI has decided that a maximum of only 50 per cent of sports facilities in various stadia will be made operational to ensure social distancing.
The doctors were holding posters that read "they may stop us, beat us, strip us, arrest us but we will always be there for you". A video of Chief Medical Officer, Bandipora, Dr Tajamul Hussain being stopped by police has gone viral on social media. The medical officer was on way to inspect a quarantine centre and sample collection centre in the north Kashmir district.
The locals protested after Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) Commissioner on Monday night issued an order withdrawing restrictions from the buffer zone and also squeezed the size of the containment zone to half. Sources said the protesters hit the streets at about 2 am in the intervening night of Monday-Tuesday, but they were pacified as the police sought time till Tuesday morning to address their grievances.
At his routine review meeting with his Team 11 on Tuesday, Adityanath issued directives to expedite the process of setting up of Migration Commission and provide jobs to migrant workers. The commission will be set up in the next few days in accordance with the existing provisions of law, said a senior government official here on Tuesday.
The five-year-old was rescued by a team of Athagarh Forest division from the quarantine facility at Mahulia UGME school in the Baramba range. How the scaly ant-eater ended up at the quarantine facility is yet to be ascertained. Divisional Forest Officer Sasmita Lenka said, acting on the information from the local sarpanch, her team reached the quarantine centre and rescued the pangolin.
3274 Shramik special trains have been run till May 25 carrying 44 lakh passengers to their home states. On May 25, 223 Shramik specials were ferrying 2.8 lakh passengers: Indian Railways
Stating that the vulnerable population including the elderly and people with comorbid conditions need extra care, Odisha CM said that a fortnight of serious awareness creation in all these aspects should be planned. There are many learning points -- scientific, social and administrative -- in the two months of lockdown, he said and added that the response should be tweaked based on this.
20 more CISF personnel test positive for coronavirus. 18 of these are were posted in the unit that guards the Delhi airport.
For May 25, Railways had offered 125 trains for evacuation of migrants from Maharashtra but State govt was only able to give info for 41 trains till 2 am on May 25. Out of these, only 39 trains could run as passengers couldn't be brought by local authorities. After meticulous planning & sustained effort, Railways mobilised its resources at a very short notice and prepared 145 Shramik trains to depart from Maharashtra on May 26. These trains have already been notified for today from Maharashtra: Central Railways
The company has also launched a special 'Zoom to Atmanirbharta' sale to help customers avail personal mobility options that are safe, convenient, and affordable, the car rental firm said on Tuesday. The operations have restarted in the South and East Zones, including cities such as Bangalore, Mangalore, Hyderabad, Vizag, Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi, Calicut, Guwahati, Siliguri, and Bhubaneswar, among others, following the MHA guidelines easing the restrictions for lockdown 4.0.
The MNS chief detailed how the coronavirus pandemic has led to an unprecedented national upheaval followed by the lockdown, and given the present turbulent scenario, it was impossible to ascertain how long the shutdown will continue, especially in Mumbai and Pune. "If, even the lockdown is eased, does that mean we are free from the coronavirus? Of course not! You too are aware of this," Thackeray said, seeking the reasons why the Governor wanted to hold the varsity exams.
The MNS chief detailed how the coronavirus pandemic has led to an unprecedented national upheaval followed by the lockdown, and given the present turbulent scenario, it was impossible to ascertain how long the shutdown will continue, especially in Mumbai and Pune. "If, even the lockdown is eased, does that mean we are free from the coronavirus? Of course not! You too are aware of this," Thackeray said, seeking the reasons why the Governor wanted to hold the varsity exams.
Tourism ministry extends validity period of Approval/Classifications of hotels and other accommodation units till June 30, 2020.The Ministry has decided to allow 6 months’ relaxation or extension to all categories of tour operators, travel agents and tourist transport operators.
The passengers also need to undergo health screening after their arrival at the airport, the advisory by the Health Department said on Monday. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
This is important to note that so far there had been no official estimate of loss caused by lockdown imposed over two month due to coronavirus. The report also pointed out that states with largest number of cases have contributed maximum to the GDP loss with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat leading the pack respectively. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
There is no confirmation yet on resumption of Delhi Metro rail services. Whenever such a direction comes, DMRC will require a minimum of two days for preparations. Delhi government wants that metro train services should be started again soon: Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot.
Total COVID-19 cases in Himachal Pradesh now stand at 223, including 151 active cases, 63 recovered patients and five deaths: State Health Department.
The total number of positive cases in the state rises to 595: Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Manipur detected three new positive cases of COVID-19 today. Total number of positive cases rise to 39 in the state, including 35 active cases: Government of Manipur.
The flight took off at 1 AM IST and also carried a Nepalese national Prabha Baskota, married to an Indian, and five Israeli diplomats posted in Delhi. Out of the 121 passengers aboard flight AI 140, some 85 of them would take a connecting flight to Kochi on Tuesday from Delhi. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
The Air India flight from J F K International Airport to Bengaluru flew on May 25 and had 329 passengers, including two infants, according to officials. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
The VHSE examinations began at 10 am on Tuesday. The SSLC examination is scheduled in the afternoon session and it will begin at 2 pm and the HSE examination will begin on Wednesday. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
145 trains being run from Maharashtra today: Railway Ministry sources.
Nine new cases of COVID-19 reported from Barpeta today; the total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 548: Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Seven RPF personnel posted at Ludhiana railway station have tested positive for COVID-19 and around 100 personnel quarantined: Director General (DG), Railway Protection Force.
The total number of COVID-19 patients in Nagpur is 406.Out of 406, 313 patients have recovered. This means our recovery rate is between 75%-80%. One of the major reasons for this is early identification, tracing, isolation testing and treatment: Municipal Commissioner, Nagpur, Maharashtra.
Out of the 1219 samples tested yesterday for COVID-19, results of 21 are positive: King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow.
Spike of 6,535 new COVID19 cases and 146 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases in the country now at 1,45,380 including 80,722 active cases, 60,490 cured/discharged and 4167 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The youth, Madhaba Patra, has been subjected to this cruel fate despite having already spent 14 days in quarantine in Berhampur and testing negative for Covid-19. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
13 new COVID-19 cases reported taking the total number of cases in Assam to 539, including 470 active cases and four deaths: Himanta Biswa Sarma, State Health Minister.
The resumption of domestic flight operations on Monday after a two-month gap got off to a turbulent start with 630 flights being cancelled and passengers kept in the dark about the decision. As a result, thousands of fliers across many cities were left in the lurch when they reached the airport, only to find out that their flights were not taking to the skies. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
Three new COVID-19 positive cases reported in Bapu Dham Colony. The total number of cases in the union territory now stands at 269: Health Department, Chandigarh.
The total count of cases in India now stands at 1,38,845 with 4,021 deaths. A total of 154 of these deaths were reported on Monday. Now, India is among the 10 worst-affected countries hit by the pandemic globally in terms of total confirmed cases. (READ FULL STORY HERE)